Steam Methane Reforming(SMR) Reaction in Monolith Reactors Using CFD Modeling

In the present work, Steam Methane Reforming(SMR) reaction in monolith reactors was modeled. Experiments of SMR were carried out in a Bench-scale monolith reactor. A single-channel was considered and two axi-symmetric CFD models were developed for modeling. General kinetic models for SMR and Water–Gas-Shift (WGS) reaction rates based on Langmuir–Hinshelwood type were employed. Good agreement was achieved between bench experimental data and the model. The validated CFD model was considered as numerical laboratory .Using experimental design a sensitivity analysis was run in order to find the effect of feed temperature, GHSV, pressure and inlet H2O/CH4 molar ratio on the reactor performance. It was concluded that obtained results from CFD analysis gives precise guidelines for further studies on optimization of monolithic reactor performance.